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Household Names: Washington Writers and Their Friends

Howard W. Gunlocke Rare Book and Special Collections Room

September 1, 1998

December 31, 1998

Introduction:

The national fascination with what goes on in Washington is of long standing and shows no sign of going out of fashion. No longer a sleepy Southern town, the District of Columbia and its surrounding suburbs of necessity entertain and beguile a transient community of politicians, consultants, diplomats, journalists, and hangers-on. These newcomers arrive not quite sure of what to expect; they thrive for a little or for longer as their ambition and skills may decide; and they retire, honored or not, into the background against which new stars will, in their turn, seek to shine.

And in retirement, as often as not, they turn to writing their memoirs. Harry Truman, the first of a number of long-lived ex-presidents, more or less established a new tradition of presidential memoirs, and sales of his volumes were such that publishers have little trouble in attracting new authors once they are safely out of office. And lesser Washington lights, too, even without the prospect of huge advances, eagerly offer up for the benefit of all what insights their careers have brought them. Wordsworthians all, they express in a selection of language really used by men those thoughts and ideas that take their origin from emotion recollected in tranquility.

But Washington is an issues town, too, and the tide of literary creation does not always wait for retirement. The Cold War, and especially the confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union, proved fertile indeed for the creation of books by those in a position to know. Nor were domestic social issues unproductive, as the record fully shows. Nor indeed was any issue on which might be centered the ebb and flow of the political process, for the national desire to know more fully the truth of one's own assumptions or the folly of the other fellow's operates quite independently of substantive basis. Whatever the result in the political arena, these special pleaders, like Shelley, seek to be the unacknowledged legislators of the world.

There is more to literary Washington, of course, than memoirs and issue books; but these are the meat and potatoes of the local literary cuisine, and it is on these that this exhibit focusses. A stray flower of poetry has been included, as have been some minor presidential writings, regardless of subject, largely for the fact that these have been significantly inscribed by their authors. And from these, and the other inscriptions recorded in the catalog, we learn something about the relative density of the local literary community.

The recipients of 70 of the 78 books in the exhibit can be identified. Of these, 20 qualify as "Washington insiders," and they were given 34 of the titles by their proud authors. Another 29 recipients, not nearly so well connected, were given 36 titles; and, admittedly, some few of these were people with Georgetown connections, and one was this library itself. But these are quibbles. The list of recipients is almost as impressive as the list of authors, including such notables as Francis Biddle, Arthur Burns, Champ Clark, William Colby, Daniel Ellsberg, and Harry Hopkins, not to mention media folk like Bill Downs and Neil MacNeil.

No apology need be made for a list of authors that includes nine presidents: Carter, Coolidge, Eisenhower, Ford, Hoover, Kennedy, both Roosevelts, and Truman, as well as three first ladies: Lady Bird Johnson, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Edith Bolling Wilson. Then too, not all of the books were presented by their authors, or solely by their authors, and the list of those who have added their inscriptions to titles written wholly or in large measure by others includes such worthies (besides Eisenhower) as Dean Acheson, Spiro T. Agnew, J. Edgar Hoover, Nelson Rockefeller, and Harry Truman.

The books in this exhibit have, with only a very few exceptions, come to the library since 1970 as gifts, and Georgetown owes a debt of gratitude to all those whose generosity has made the exhibit possible. The careful viewer will find much to delight and to instruct, and hopefully, as Don Whitehead said of Bill and Roz Downs, to provide a solid guarantee against boredom, bombast and bad bourbon.

George M. BarringerAssistant University Librarian, Special Collections & Archives

Items in the Exhibition:

The Truman Merry-Go-Round

Allen, Robert S. (Robert Sharon), b. 1900Shannon, William VincentNew York: The Vanguard Press, Inc. [c1950]Inscribed by Allen: To Leon Henderson an old comrade on the merry-go-round, who has always ridden it with courage and honor with warmest esteem Bob Allen.

The Memoirs Of William Jennings Bryan By Himself and His Wife Mary Baird Bryan, Illustrated

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925Philadelphia, Chicago, Toronto: The John C. Winston Company, c1925First edition, copy no. 65. Inscribed by the author: To Hugh & Grace van Wagenen with best wishes of Wm. Jennings Bryan Dec 25th 1925. With a photograph of the Bryans and two of their bookplates laid in.

The Best Of Wm. F. Buckley Jr. Quotations From Chairman Bill, Compiled By David Franke

The Pattern Of Responsibility, Edited By... From The Record Of Secretary Of State Dean Acheson, Introduction By Douglas Southall Freeman

Bundy, McGeorgeBoston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1952Inscribed by Acheson: To His Excellency Baron Silvercruys whose generous friendship has brought happiness over many years to Dean Acheson January 1952.

All In One Lifetime

Byrnes, James F. (James Francis), 1882-1972New York: Harper & Brothers, c1958Inscribed by the author (at the request of the recipient's son, John): To Earle Mayfield with birthday greetings from James F. Byrnes April 12, 1959.

Have Faith In Massachusetts : A Collection Of Speeches and Messages Second Edition Enlarged

Coolidge, Calvin, 1872-1933Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, c1919Inscribed by the author: To George H. O'Connor With regards Calvin Coolidge June 1920.

The Killing Of The Peace

Cranston, Alan MacGregorNew York: The Viking Press, 1945Inscribed by the author: For Denys P. Myer, with thanks for his great help in the writing of this book, and with highest regard for his relentless fight for an enduring peace. Alan Cranston.

Cry Of The Oppressed : The History and Hope Of The Human Rights Revolution

Dulles, Allen Welsh, 1893-1969New York, Evanston and London: Harper & Row, Publishers, c1963Inscribed by the author: To Otto Guthe, as a reminder of our work together, over many years. With the author's regards. Allen W. Dulles Jan 18, 1964.

The Secret Surrender

Dulles, Allen Welsh, 1893-1969New York, Evanston and London: Harper & Row, Publishers, c1966Inscribed by the author: To Otto Guthe, as a reminder of our years of work to-gether, with the esteem of the author. Allen W. Dulles 6 Oct. 1966.

The Company : A Novel

Ehrlichman, JohnNew York: Simon and Schuster, c1976Inscribed by the author: For John Osborne, with sincere respect and admiration for your skill and integrity -- then and now -- John Ehrlichman.

Report By The Supreme Commander To The Combined Chiefs Of Staff On The Operations In Europe Of The Allied Expeditionary Force 6 June 1944 to 8 May 1945

Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969Washington: Government Printing Office, 1946Inscribed by the "author": To The Baron Silvercruys -- Ambassador of Belgium -- with admiration and esteem and with deep affection for his gallant country. Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Jim Farley's Story : The Roosevelt Years

Farley, James A. (James Aloysius), 1888-1976New York, Toronto: Whittlesey House, McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. c1948Inscribed by the author: To Ann Batchelder with every good wish, James A. Farley.

Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006Harper & Row, Publishers and The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. c1979Inscribed by the author: To Father Healy, with admiration and with appreciation for your many kindnesses. Best regards. Gerald R. Ford.

The Practice Of Diplomacy : As Illustrated In The Foreign Relations Of The United States

Foster, John W., 1942-Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1906Inscribed by the author: Hon. James B. Scott With the compliments of John W. Foster. Nov. 9 - 06.

Turbulent Era : A Diplomatic Record Of Forty Years 1904-1945 Edited By Walter Johnson Assisted By Nancy Harvison Hooker

Mr. President : The First Publication From The Personal Diaries, Private Letters, Papers And Revealing Interviews Of Harry S. Truman Pictures By Alfred Wagg

Hillman, William, 1895-New York: Farrar, Straus and Young, c1952Inscribed by the author: To Paul Pearlman with best wishes William Hillman and by Truman: Kindest regards to Paul Pearlman Harry S. Truman.

America's First Crusade

Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1942Inscribed by the author: To my good friend, Father Edmund A. Walsh from Herbert Hoover and A Happy New Year (anyway).

Ickes, Harold L. (Harold LeClair), 1874-1952New York: Reynal & Hitchcock, c1943Inscribed by the author: To my friend and colleague, Francis Biddle, who never could be a curmudgeon but who might be able to understand one. Harold L. Ickes Sept. 1, 1943.

The Struggle For Judicial Supremacy : A Study Of a Crisis In American Power Politics

Jackson, Robert Houghwout, 1892-1954New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1941Inscribed by the author: For Francis Biddle with the friendship and esteem of Bob Jackson.

Kefauver, Estes, 1903-1963Levin, JackNew York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce, c1947Inscribed by Kefauver: For Francis Biddle one of our greatest Americans and always an inspiration to - Estes Kefauver May 1947.

Decisions For a Decade Policies and Programs For The 1970s

Kennedy, Edward Moore, 1932-Garden City: Doubleday & Company, Inc. 1968Inscribed by the author: To Mr & Mrs Hugh Auchincloss who have been friends in the past and I know will be in the future. Ted Kennedy December 1968.

Profiles In Courage

Kennedy, John F., 1942-New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, c1956Signed by the author and inscribed by Jacqueline Kennedy: For Father Wilson with my deepest gratitude for all your comfort and kindness Jacqueline Kennedy.

Profiles In Courage

Kennedy, John F. New York: Harper & Brothers:Publishers [c1961]Signed by the author and inscribed by Jacqueline Kennedy: For Father McSorley with the deepest appreciation Jacqueline Kennedy June 1964.

Kissinger, Henry, 1923-Boston, Toronto: Little, Brown and Company, c1979Inscribed (with recipient's name misspelled) by the author: To Father Healey Who has contributed the environment which made this book possible. With high regard Henry A. Kissinger.

Lippmann, Walter, 1889-1974Boston, Toronto: Little, Brown and Company, c1959Inscribed by the author: To Katherine [?] & David Wainhouse from their affectionate friends Helen and Walt Lippmann July 1959.

Pearson, Drew, 1897-1969Anderson, Jack, 1922-2005New York: Simon and Schuster, 1958Inscribed by Pearson: To Robert C. Byrd Who brings new life to the Senate from West Virginia Drew Pearson [and Anderson] Jack Anderson.

Sherwood, Robert E. (Robert Emmet), 1896-1955New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, c1948Inscribed by the author: for Baron Silvercruys, with warm regards, Robert Sherwood January 1949 (This is sent at the suggestion of our friend, Oscar Cox.).

To Set The Record Straight : The Break-In, The Tapes, The Conspirators, The Pardon

Sirica, John J.New York, London: W. W. Norton & Company, c1979Inscribed by the author: For my valued friend Father Brian McGrath with my admiration, respect and best wishes for a happy birthday. I hope you enjoy reading my book. John J. Sirica.

The Terrors Of Justice : The Untold Side Of Watergate

Stans, Maurice H., 1908-1998New York: Everest House Publishers, c1978Inscribed by the author: To Arthur [Burns] with best wishes Maury.